|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
13th March 2004
Attendance
| 288
Rugby
United |
1 |
1 |
Sutton
Coldfield Town |
|
Williams
28 |
|
Jones 36 |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
A deserved
point for both sides |
Video
Clips | you will
require the latest version of QuickTime player which
you can download here
Jamie
Williams celebrates rugby's first goal
A
brawl brakes out in the first half
Justin
Marsden is upended but the referee waves play on
Star
Man | Robbie Beard |
His
enthusiasm and pace was once more invaluable and
caused a lot of problems. |
Tony
Dobson named the same squad that defeated Cinderford
Town 5-1 the week before with Andreas Kattos keeping
his place at the centre of Valley's defence with Andy
Rutherford recovering from illness.
Rugby
started very well, and forced two corners straight from
the kick-off with Robbie Beard setting the initiative
with some promising runs. Justin Marsden then
tested Sutton goalkeeper Justin Bray for the first time
after three minutes with a powerful effort.
United
continued to set the initiative in the first ten minutes,
and Beard was incensed when his curling effort deflected
out but the referee failed to give a corner before Craig
Dutton fired over from the edge of the area.
A
terrific opportunity arose after twelve minutes when
Beard used his pace and strength to bustle through two
defenders while he was being impeded, but he could only
strike over inside the area. The referee brought
the play back for the initial foul and Jamie Williams
forced a decent save from Bray in the Sutton goal.
The
only problems the visitors posed in the first twenty
minutes were a couple of deep crosses, but Jason Pearcey
dealt with the situations with ease. Their first
threat was from a free-kick which Marc Wolsey
could only direct over the bar.
Valley
escaped in the 26th minute when there was confusion
in the box, but Adam Hart made a fantastic block to
deny Dean Perrow from an almost certain goal.
However,
it was the home side who took the lead when Beard made
progress with a strong run before laying off to Justin
Marsden, who eventually set up Jamie Williams,
who drove home his third goal in two games low into
the corner of the net.
Again
Rugby escaped minutes later when Jason Pearcey did well
to keep out Perrow, who nearly scrambled the ball over
the line but Pearcey could do nothing to prevent Kevin
Jones from heading home inside the area following
a good move by the Royals with Richie Gardner providing
the crucial cross.
Near
the end of the first half, Marsden slid a ball through
for Beard, but his angled shot lacked power and was
easily saved by Bray before Rugby had their best chance
of the half when Beard crossed deeply but Jamie Williams'
attempted volley went past the post.
The
second half did not provide anywhere near the same entertainment
as the first half and neither side could force any real
opportunities although Sutton provided the first chance
but 17-goal Perrow could only shoot wide from eight
yards after a defensive error.
Rugby
were looking slightly dangerous on the break, but there
was no-one on the end of his dangerous low cross before
Michael Hegarty failed to find the target from the edge
of the area following a Williams corner on 71 minutes.
The
visitors threatened again just after, but Hart did enough
to make Peters poke the ball wide and then at the other
end another Williams corner caused problems as the ball
hit Andy Commander and headed goalbounds but Gardner
cleared the ball away. Commander then rose to
head wide from a Williams free-kick, and that was the
last real effort before the end of the game.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Williams, Hart, Commander,
Kattos, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Marsden (Douglas), Hegarty
(Shanahan) Subs | Thomas, Pearson,
Rutherford
Bookings
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